Concrete transporting apparatus



Oct. 20, 1931. J. P. GILLESPIE 1,828,181

CONCRETE TRANSPORTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l0st, 2Q, 1931. J. P. GILLESPIE 1,828,181

CONCRETE TRANSPORTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 17; 1%28 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [NVA 7012. James F fl/esp/e wwjg i atented (lot. 20, 1931 UNITED STATESJAMES P. GILLESPIE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CONCRETE TRANSPORTING APPARATUS Application filed November 17, 1928.

This invention is an apparatus for transporting concrete and relatesmore particularly to wheeled vehicles wherein concrete may betransported from a central mixing station to distant constructionoperations.

The transportation of the concrete in mixed condition has been generallyheretofore accomplished in cylindrical vessels by trucks on which aremounted cylindrical vessels adapted to contain the concrete, means beingprovided to rotate such vessels during transportation of the concrete inorder to preclude Stratification of the concrete constituents orsolidifying of the concrete during this 5 period. In all priorconstructions of which I am aware, cylindrical vessels have beenemployed for the purpose stated, and in order to provide for the readydischarge of the concrete at the point of destination, it

has been the practice to mount the cylinder for tilting movement uponthe vehicle whereby when the cylinder is tilted, the concrete may bedischarged through an opening provided at the rear of the cylinder.

My experience with concrete transporting trucks of the characterreferred to has shown me that they possess numerous disadvantages, bothfrom a structural standpoint and from the standpoint of efficiency inthe handling 39 of the concrete. For example, when a truck istransporting a large body of concrete in the manner stated, the cylinderis never completely filled and I have found that if the truck issuddenly started or stopped, the concrete in a plastic state is thrownforcibly against the end walls of the cylinder not infrequently causingbreakage thereto due to the action of the concrete as a hydraulicpiston. The inertia or momentum of a large body of concrete under theconditions stated is very pronounced and as a result bearings are notinfrequently broken or the cylinder and its supports strained ordamaged.

Furthermore, in order to conveniently dis charge such a cylinder, it isnecessary to tilt the cylinder. This requires some sort of cradle orother pivotal mounting, as well as lifting mechanism tobring about thepivotal movement and when such parts are employed, they must necessarilybe heavy to Serial No. 320,048.

carry out their functions and to withstand the strains to which they aresubjected. As a result, trucks made as heretofore are generally heavyand unyieldy and numerous operating parts add considerable weight to thechassis.

The question of supporting a cylinder to rotate upon a truck chassis isin the nature of a serious problem. The loaded cylinder is heavy and asthe truck traverses uneven roads, there is considerable lateral swaywhich results in lateral thrusts which should be provided for. Underprior practice, it has been general to mountthe cylinder rigidly in sofar as this lateral sway. of the truck is concerned so as to rigidlyhold the cylinder in position in contradistinction to a yieldingconnection which would cushion the lateral thrusts and compensate forthem.

lVith the foregoing considerations in mind, the object of this inventionis to provide a simple, eficient and economical apparatus for thetransportation of concrete and which will be free from the disadvantagesto which I have adverted.

Speaking generally, the apparatus of the present invention embodies asuitable wheeled vehicle, and on this vehicle is mounted a conical orfrusto conical vessel supported for rotation with its axis substantiallyhorizontal. The apex or small end of the vessel is mounted in astationary bearing, while the large end of the vessel is supported onpivotal brackets provided with suitable anti-friction means bearingagainst the periphery of the vessel. By supporting the vessel at itslarge end on the pivotal brackets as stated, slight lateral play isprovided for and this slight lateral play of the large end of the vesselis permitted without damage to the mounting at the small end thereof bymaking the bearing at the small end in the nature of a pivotalconnection. Thus, when the vessel is'charged with concrete and a vehicletraveling over rough roads, the lateral strains will be cushioned by thepivotal movement of the brackets.

It is of importance to note that the vessel employed is of conicalsection, for my experience has shown that when such a section is used, agreat many of the disadvantages which have been universally prevalent inrior constructions are entirely eliminated.

or example, if a conical vessel is employed and is provided at its largeend with a dischar e gate, it is found in practice that when theischarge gate is opened and the vessel rotated, the material will beefficiently discharged without necessitating the tilting of the vessel.

Furthermore, the tapered sides of the vessel act upon the material insuch manner that when the vehicle is abruptly started or stopped, thelon itudinal wash does not have the h draulic piston effect that it hasin a cylin rical vessel. Moreover, a conical vessel is stronger than acylindrical vessel in so faras its ability to take u longitudinal andradial stresses is concerne It thus appears that through the employmentof a vessel as described that all tiltable mounting cradles and hoistingapparatus heretofore considered essential are rendered unnecessary.

Thevessel is mounted for rotation as stated and power may be imparted tothe vessel in any suitable manner and from any suitable specified, willbe apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accom anying drawings illustrate one practical em odlment of theinvention, but

the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative,only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor truck embodying the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with a portionof such structure in section in the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fi re 2.

igure 4 is a vertical longitudinal central section through the bearingfor the forward end of the receptacle.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the chassis of a motor truck orother appropriate vehicle. This chassis is shown as substan' tiallyconventional. Extending across the rear of the chassis, however, is areinforcing channel section 2 curved midway of its length as illustratedat 3 in Figure 2, so as to substantially conform with the peripheralcontour of the vessel adapted to be mounted on the chassis. This channelsection is, in practice, made fairly heavy so as to constitute a rigidsup ort well adapted to carry the major portion 0 the load.

Fitted between the flanges of the channel sectionfor pivotal movementare a pair of brackets 4. These brackets are mounted on bolts 5 whichserve as pivots and each bracket carries rollers 6 which are spacedapart as shown and are positioned on opposite sides of the pivot.- Ifind it convenient in practice to form the rollers 6 as shown in Figure3. Here they are illustrated as mounted for turning movement on pins 7which are provided with antifriction bearings 8, so that the rollers mayturn easily and without appreciable friction. Each roller is, moreover,preferably provided with a rubber sleeve 9. The vessel 10 which isadapted to contain the concrete is of conical section. It may, inpractice, he conical throughout, but in order to facilitate the mountingat its rear end on the brackets as shown, the extreme rear portion ofthe vessel is preferably made cylindrical, so that that portion of thevessel which bears upon the rollers 6 will be cylindrical. The greaterportion of the vessel is, however, conical so I in engagement with thesebrackets by a yoke 11 which extends upwardly and over the top of thevessel so as to substantially embrace the latter. The yoke is bolteddown or otherwise secured to the channel section 2 and this yoke ishollowed out to minimize weight and to provide in the upper portionthereof for the reception of a plurality of antifriction rolls 12. Theserolls are substantially the same in structure as the rolls 6 and theiraxles or spindles are mounted in the yoke in such manner as to cause therollers 12 to bear upon the vessel and hold it in engagement with therollers (5 of the brackets 4.

The forward end of the vessel 10 is provided with an axial trunnion 14firmly and ruggedly supported on the relatively small front head 15 ofthe vessel. This trunnion extends into and is supported by a standard16. The standard is rigidly bolted to the frame of the chassis andcarries in its upper portion antifriction thrust bearings as shown insection in Figure 4. It will be noted from this latter figure that thetrunnion 14 is reduced near its end to receive a roll race 17 which isfirmly secured thereon by a threaded collar or castellated nut 18secured against loosening by a pin 19. Antifriction rolls 20 cooperatewith the roll race 17 and also cooperate with a roll race 21 mounted inthe standard 16. The surface 22 of this latter roll race embodies aportion of a spherical surface and the antifriction rolls 20 are setwith their axes in angular intersecting relation, so that the bearingthus provided serves the dual purpose of an antifriction bearing and athrust bearing while permitting slight swinging movement of the trunnionwithout cramping the bearing rolls.

The bearing rolls operate within a chamber 23 sealed by a suitablepacking 24, so that grease may be introduced through an opening 25 tofill the casing whereby the bearings are adapted to operate in grease. Ahearing of the character shown in Fig. 4 is particularly desirable in astructure such as I have shown. Because such a bearing allows of slightlateral play of the rear end of the vessel without damage to the bearingand this slight lateral play is desirable because of the pivotalmountings of the brackets 4. These pivotal mountings allow of slightside play of the rear end of the vessel so that said side play iscushioned against suddenly applied lateral stresses. At the same time,the bearing shown in Figure 4 is fully adequate to take up all endthrusts so that there is in the construction of the present device aflexibility without strain unknown in prior arrangements of thecharacter under consideration.

The vessel 10 may be rotated in any suitable manner, but for the purposeof illustration the trunnion 14 is shown as provided with a gear 26driven from the pinion 27 mounted on a shaft 28. This shaft is providedwith a clutch 29 operated from the seat of the truck through a handle 30and a chain 31 serves as a driving medium from any suitable prime mover,such, for example, as the truck motor or from an independent drive unit.

The vessel is provided in its rear wall or head with a suitabledischarge gate 32 cletails of which I have not thought necessary toillustrate and the yoke 11 is preferably formed with a rearwardlyextending lip 33, so that when material is discharged through the gate32, it will be directed by the lip in a rearward direction anddischarged without coming into contact with any of the operating partsof the apparatus.

I wish to lay particular stress on the fact that through the use of aconical vessel, this vessel may be mounted on a fixed horizontal axisand no provision is required for tilting the vessel. The sloping sidesof the vessel will cause the material to gravitate at all times towardthe rear thereof, and when the end gate is opened, the concrete will bedischarged therethrough by gravity. I generally find it desirable,however, to rotate the vessel while discharging its contents, but byforming the lip 33 as shown, this may be accomplished withoutdistributing the concrete and without splashing it upon the operatingparts of the apparatus. Of course, it will be understood that the vesselis charged through the discharge gate and that suitable structure notshown, is utilized to open and close the end gate and to maintain it inclosed position, while thevessel is rotated during transportation of thematerial.

Experience has shown me, moreover, that the interior of the vessel maybe made smooth and unobstructed. Battles, agitators, scrapers and otherdevices generally used in prior constructions are wholly unnecessarywith 1 the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings. The concrete ismaintained during transportation in a thoroughly mixed. mass by rotationof the vessel during transportation even for prolonged periods and isdischarged in a simple and eficient manner to leave the interior of thevessel substantially free from residualmaterial.

Another pronounced advantage inherent in the use of the conical vesselas described is its inherent strength and rigidity and the fact that itsforward end may be supported in a strong, rugged manner well adapted totake up end thrusts without damage to either the end wall of the vesselor the bearings with which the trunnion is associated.

The accompanying drawings show the invention in its preferred practicalform and the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate withthe appended claims.

, The vessel shown in the accompanying drawings is provided withlongitudinally straight sides, so as to embody a true conical section,but, if desired, these sides may be bulged inwardly or outwardly so asto de viate from a true conical section without departing from thisinvention and the claims are to be so understood.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a suitable vehicle, abearing rigidly 5 supported on the vehicle, a substantially conicalhorizontally disposed vessel provided at its small end with a trunnionsupported by said bearing, pivotally mounted brackets provided withantifriction means peripherally;- engaging and supporting the large endof the vessel below the axis thereof, a yoke extending upwardly and overthe larger end of the vessel to embrace the same, antifriction meanscarried by the yoke and peripherally engaging the vessel above its axisto preclude lifting of the vessel from the antifriction means of thebrackets, and means for rotating the vessel, said vessel being providedat its larger end with a normally closed discharge opening.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a suitable vehicle, abearing rigidly supported on the vehicle, a substantially conicalhorizontally disposed vessel provided at its small end with a trunnionsupported by said bearing, pivotally mounted brackets provided withantifriction means peripheral- 1y engaging and supportin the large endof the vessel, below the axis t ereof, a yoke extending upwardly andover the larger end of the vessel to embrace the same, antifrictionmeans carried by the yoke and peripherally engaging the vessel above itsaxis to preclude 5 lifting of the vessel from the antifriction means ofthe brackets, and means for rotating the vessel, said vessel beingprovided at its larger end with a normally closed discharge opening,said yoke being provided i [o with a rearwardly extending lip forming achute into which concrete is adapted to be discharged from saiddischarge opening in the vessel.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a suitable vehicle, aconical vessel having a smooth unencumbered interior and positioned onthe vehicle on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the vehiclewith the larger end of the vessel to the rear of the vehicle, an axialtrunnion extending forwardly from the smaller end of the vessel, acombination antifriction and thrust bearing fixedly mounted on thevehicle and engaging with the trunnion to support the forward end of thevessel while permitting slight lateral movement of the rear end of thevessel, a reinforcing member extending transversely of the vehicle atthe rear thereof and beneath the large end of the vessel, bracketspivotally i I) mounted on the reinforcing member and provided withrollers bearing against the periphcry of the vessel and below the axisthereof to support the larger end of the vessel, a yoke carried by thevehicle and embracing the upper portion of the vessel to maintain thevessel in engagement with said rollers, antifriction means carried bythe yoke and also engaging the periphery of the vessel, a discharge gatein the rear end of said vessel, and "49 means for rotating the vessel.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

JAMES P. GILLESPIE.

